Helicobacter pylori in the Cytoplasm of Kato III Cells

Cho, Joong Hyeon; Lee, Jung Hee; Ko, Gyung Hyuck; Kim, You Kyoung; Youn, Hee Shang; Lee, Woo Kon; Cho, Myung Je; Rhee, Kwang Ho; Park, Seung Chul; Kang, Soo Min

Abstract

Background/Aims; Some investigaters reported that the invasion of H. pylori into the gastric epithelial cells or lamina propria had been detected by light microscopie examination using various staining methods (i,e. the Warthin-Starry stain, immunohistologic stain) or by electron microscopic examination. However, the results are hardly convinced because they may be nonspecifically stained, or the intracytoplasmic organelles of the gastric epithelial cells may be mistaken for bacteria. Thus, we combined an immunohistologic method with an electron microscopy to deterrnine whether H. pylori is invasive into the gastric epithelial cells. Metbods: To enhance bacterial invasion, we adapted an in vitro system using Kato III cells, a gastric carcinoma eell line. The cells were infected with H. pylori. The infection was confirmed by staining with polyelonal antibody against H. pylori. and an electron microscopy. Resnlts: H. pylori was found within the cytoplasm of several Kato III cells. The intracellular bacteria could be differentiated from intracellular organelles or other bacteria-looking materials by gold particles attached to the bacteria,
CONCLUSIONS
We could not elucidate the invasiveness of H. pylori, but we found the presence of H. pylori in the cytoplasm of the Kato III cells. These results indicate that the invasiveness of H. pylori will remain as one of the factors participating in the pathogenesis oF H. pylori-induced chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer. Further studies will be needed to demonstrate the invasiveness of H. pylori.